Auxiliary Verb in English

This article will explain the meaning of auxiliary verbs and list some examples. Common words like do or have are auxiliary verbs. Did you know that?

Auxiliary Verbs

What Is an Auxiliary Verb?

An auxiliary verb is a supportive or helping verb in a sentence. It adds grammatical meaning to the main verb or clause in which it is used. For example, when someone says, I have parked my car, they are using the auxiliary verb “have“, which shows the perfect aspect of the word parked. Auxiliary verbs are common in sentences. Examples of these verbs include do, be, will, have, and others. We will look at each of these common verbs specifically.

List of Auxiliary Verbs

• Do
• Does
• Will
• Have
• Has
• Be
• Been
• Is
• Was
• Had
• Are
• Were
• Did
• Will be
• Will have
• Will do

Types of Auxiliary Verbs

Primary Auxiliary Verbs

To Be

The auxiliary verb “be” is a common and valuable helping verb in grammar. It can be used in different forms: is, am, are, been, being, was, will be. When used in a sentence, the auxiliary verb “be” is combined with the main action verb to form a verb phrase.

Jack was playing video games last night. The verb “was” is an auxiliary verb to express the progressive aspect of the action “play” in the past tense.

To Have

The verb “have” is mainly used in sentences as an action verb to show possession, such as I have a cat. When used as an auxiliary verb, it is combined with another action verb to express time. For example,

Billie has bought a new car to replace the one she wrecked.

“Has” is the singular form of the auxiliary verb “have” and is used to represent the present participle aspect of the verb buy.

To Do

“Do” or “to do” is a verb that can stand alone as an action verb in a sentence or can be used to help another main verb. When used as an auxiliary verb, it is used to ask questions or to for negative statements. Let’s look at these two statements:

• Did you go home after the party?

“Did” is the auxiliary verb supporting the action verb “go” in forming a question.

• Betty doesn’t sit on benches in the park.

“Doesn’t” or “does not” is an auxiliary verb negating the verb sit.

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs are used to express modality, which refers to the speaker’s attitude toward the action or state expressed by the main verb. There are ten modal auxiliary verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, and ought to.

Modal auxiliary verbs do not change form for different subjects or tenses. They are followed by the base form of the main verb.

Will

“Will” is a verb that represents the future tense. As an auxiliary verb, it is used with the main verb to describe what is to happen in the future or what someone is planning to do. For example,

• I will go to the supermarket tomorrow.

“Will” is used in this sentence to show that the action will happen in the future.

Functions of Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, are an essential part of the English language. They help to convey various grammatical functions in a sentence.

Tense, Aspect, and Voice

Auxiliary verbs play a crucial role in indicating the tense, aspect, and voice of a sentence. They help to convey when an action took place, whether it is ongoing or completed, and who or what is performing the action. Here are some examples of auxiliary verbs used to indicate tense, aspect, and voice:

• Tense: She has eaten breakfast. (present perfect)
• Aspect: They are playing soccer. (present continuous)
• Voice: The cake was baked by Mary. (passive voice)

Emphasis

Auxiliary verbs can also be used to add emphasis to a sentence. By placing the auxiliary verb before the main verb, the speaker can emphasize the action or state being described. For example:

• He does like pizza. (emphasizing that he really does like pizza)
• She did finish the project on time. (emphasizing that she completed the project on time)

Negation

Auxiliary verbs are also used in negation to indicate the absence of an action or state. The most common auxiliary verb used for negation is “do,” which is used to form negative sentences in the present and past tense. For example:

• She does not like spicy food. (present tense)
• They did not go to the party. (past tense)

Questions

Auxiliary verbs are used to form questions in English. The auxiliary verb is placed before the subject of the sentence to form a question. For example:

• Do you like chocolate? (present tense)
• Did she finish the book? (past tense)

Last Updated on May 21, 2025